Switch handle



Aug. 2 1927.

A. H. NERO SWITCH HANDLE Filed March 51.. 1921 INVENTUR Hkv/o H. NERO ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UN T stares A TEN T OFFICE..-

AnvInH. Nnno, OFNEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TQ TIIE'ARRCW E ECT TRIC OMPANY, or nanrronn, CoNNECTICUnn CORPORATION or O NECTICUT.

SWITCH HANDLE.

Application filed March 31, I921. sen-(51nd. 451 133. 7

My invention relates to electric switch handles, and particularly to a rotary snap switch handle. The object of my invention is to provide a handle of improved construction affording aone-way operating connection with the switchmechanism.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 isaplan ,of a rotary snap switch to which a handle embodying my invention in one form is applied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section through the handle drawn to an enlarged scale; I

Figs. 4; and 5 are .sections on the lines 41 and ,55, Fig. 3, respectively.

Fig. 6 is a View corresponding to Fig. 5, but showing the handle in different position;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a detail of construction; and I Fig. 8 is a broken plan of a modified construction. r In rotary snap switches, 1t 1s common to provide a switch mechanism whichis r0 tatable in only one direction. In order to obviate the-danger of injury to the mechanism,-should the operating handle be forced in a direction opposite to that in which the mechanism is designed tov rotate, it has heree.

tofore been proposed-to provide a one-way operating connection between the handle and the switch spindle. The. constructions usedfor this. purpose, however, have been more or less expensive to manufacture. The present invention provides a handle of this type, which is rugged and substantial in construction, while at the same time economi- Cally manufactured and assembled, and eflicient in operation. 1

A switch of the rotary snap type is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and comprises an insulating base 10, upon which a snap switch mechanism (not shown) of any suitable sort is mounted on the rotary operating spindle 11 (Fig. 3), the upper end of which projects through the cover 12 The latter rests on the shoulder 13 of the base and is held'aga'inst rotation by a boss 14. on the latter engaging a notch 15 in the side of the cover. The operating handle 16, to which my invention particularly relates, carries a ferrule 17 tapped to screw upon the upper end of the spindle 11' as usual.

In the particular form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, a rectangular chamber '18 is molded a the handle, and-a hole 19 opened thereto,through whicli ac 7 cess may be had to the'outer end ofthe ferrule 17, for a purpose hereinafter mentioned.

At its opposite end the chamber 18 isen'-.-

larged to form a bay 20, with which communicates a bayonet slot channel. 21 to re-f ceive a ferrule retainingwash'er 22, after the roundingthepin is acoil springj27, one leg, 28, of which lies against the side of the gap.

24, while itsother leg, 29, bearsagainst the side of the dog and tends constantly to force it outward against" the walls ofth e chamber 18. Thepin 26 is located ,excentric tothe axls ofthe ferrule 17, so that while the dog 25 is'pressed into the gap 24 whenthe handle 16'is rotated contra-clockwise with respect to the ferrule (see Fig. 6), and thehandle turns ,freely thereon, yetwhen the handle 16 is rotated clockwise, (that is to say in the direction to, operate the switch mechanism on the spindle 11) the nose of the dog engages one. of the walls'ofrthe rectangular chamberl8andacting as a strut, im arts, the

rotary movement of the switch han le to the spindle 11. Thus while the handle 16' may n be freely rotated in one direction, it posi tively operates the switch when 'rotated in' the opposite direction.

Interposed between thehead oftheferrule and theretaining washer 22,.is acoil; springSO which serves to pressthe handle:

16 firmlydown upon the cover 12 when the ferrule is screwed upon the spindle '11. The

cover is thus firmly retained in seated position upon the base 10 in a manner well understood in the art. A washer, or washers,

31 may be arranged on the shank of the ferrule between the cover and the bearing boss 32 of the switch handle to take up wear between theparts; It is obvious that the relative longitudinal displacement of the ferrule in the handle incident to the screwing of the latter in the spindle, doesnotfaffect the operation ofthe ratchet dog in any way; Inasmuch as the handle lfiis freely rotatable contra-Clockwise on the ferrule, it is obvious that some means must be afforded to engage the latter should it be desired'to unscrew the handle from the spindle 11. For this purpose across slot 33 is formed in its head 23, and this cross slot is accessible through the hole 19 in'the handle, so that it may be readily engaged by the end ofa screw driver.

The construction 111st described 1s-'appro-- priate for handles of any suitablei-nsulat ing material having sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the repeated action of the dog without injurious wear. here the handle {is made of soft materlal, however,

such as rubber or insulating composition, I

prefer to embed or force therein a metallic lining 34 for the rectangular chamber, as is indicated in Fig. 8. The dog 25 will then bear upon this metallic lining and cooperate therewith in precisely theisame fashion as in the construction first described. In fact, the lining piece may be used ina porcelain handle if desired. a a i The particular construction of the dog 29, or the, way inwhich it is mounted upon theferrule 17 is subject to various modifications, as are also the other detailsof con-- struction shown which constitute merely an llluStTEtlilVB embodiment of what I claim as my invention.

1. A. switch handle comprlsing a cham-. bered body, a ferrule rotatable insaid Clltlllb.

bered body, anda ratchet dog pivotally mounted on said ferrule andhaving a oneway operating engagement directly with said body.

2. A switch handlecomprising a chain.

bered body, a ferrule rotatable in said chambered body, and a ratchet dog pivotally mounted on said ferrule eccentric to the axis of the latter, and having a one-way operating engagement directly with said body.

3. A switch handle comprising a. body re cessed to afford a non-circular chamber, a ferrule rotatable therein, and means pivoted to said ferrule having a one-way operating engagement with the walls of said chamber.

4:. A switch handle having a chambered body, a ferrule rotatable therein, agapped head for said ferrule, and a ratchet dog arranged in said gap and having a one-way engagement wlth the body of the handle.

A switch handle having a chamberedbody, a ferrule rotarily and longitudinally displaceable in said handle, and means pivoted to said ferrule and operated to afford a one way engagement. between the ferrule and the body regardless of the relative longitudinal displacement of the parts. 6. A switch handle having a chambered body affording internal lateral bearing surtive engagement with the handle body, such engagement being effective on the rotation of the handle n the same direction as that necessary in order to effect the screw'connection between the ferrule and the switch spindle.

8. A switch handle comprising a chambered body, a ferrule secured to said body and rotatable with respect thereto, said fer rule being; screw threaded to afford aoneway connection with an associated switch spindle, together with a ratchetmember pivoted on the ferrule eccentric to the axis ofthe latter and having a one-way oper ative engagement with the handle body, such engagement beingefli'ective on the rotation of the handle in the same direction as that necessary in order to effect the screw" connection between the ferrule and the switch. spindle, said-handle being pierced to afford access to the ferrule for rotating the latter in the direction of the slipof the ratchet with a respect to the handle, for the purpose of freeing the ferrule from the spindle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name -to this specification.

Anvm NERO. 

